Quarterback Malik Willis played in seven games and started two – both victories – last season for the Green Bay Packers in relief of Jordan Love.
But Willis didn’t make his 2025 debut until 2:34 remained in the first quarter on Sunday, when Love left the contest against the New York Giants after taking a hard hit on his non-throwing shoulder on a scramble.
Love was able to return on the next possession and Willis played only seven snaps, but after the Packers defeated the Giants 27-20, Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur said: “We don’t win that game without Malik.”
Facing second-and-16 at the Giants 32-yard line when he took the field, Willis guided Green Bay to the end zone. He capped the possession with a 1-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Christian Watson with 13:54 left in the first half. A missed extra point left the Packers trailing 7-6.
Willis completed both his passes for 6 yards on the series and had a 16-yard run on third-and-8 to advance the Packers to the New York 16.
LaFleur said it was unsettling for him to call a quarterback run for Willis with Love in the locker room at the time.
“You’re a little bit concerned in that moment because you can’t have anything happen to him,” LaFleur said. “But he made a lot of plays.”
Willis was among the 17 former Auburn players who got on the field on the 11th Sunday of the NFL’s 106th season.
Three other former Auburn players were involved in the Green Bay-New York game:
Packers safety Jaylin Simpson is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton was designated as a game-day inactive. A hamstring injury kept Slayton out of the lineup.
Colby Wooden started at defensive tackle for the Packers. Wooden made four tackles.
In the other Sunday games:
Miami Dolphins 16, Washington Commanders 13 (OT)
Dolphins linebacker K.J. Britt (Oxford) made one tackle on special teams.
Commanders cornerback Noah Igbinoghene (Hewitt-Trussville) made two tackles.
Jonathan Jones started at cornerback for the Commanders. Jones made six tackles and recorded his first sack since he took down Ben Roethlisberger during the New England Patriots’ 17-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Dec. 16, 2018.
Carolina Panthers 30, Atlanta Falcons 27 (OT)
Derrick Brown started at defensive end for the Panthers. Brown did not record any stats.
Buffalo Bills 44, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 32
Jamel Dean started at cornerback for the Buccaneers. Dean did not record any stats before leaving with a hip injury.
Buccaneers defensive tackle Jayson Jones (Calera) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Jacksonville Jaguars 35, Los Angeles Chargers 6
Chargers long snapper Josh Harris handled the snaps for four punts and two field goals.
Chargers wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith was designated as a game-day inactive.
Jaguars linebacker Jalen McLeod is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Jaguars offensive tackle Kilian Zierer is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Chicago Bears 19, Minnesota Vikings 17
Vikings linebacker Austin Keys did not record any stats.
Pittsburgh Steelers 34, Cincinnati Bengals 12
Steelers offensive tackle Jack Driscoll is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Houston Texans 16, Tennessee Titans 13
Texans defensive tackle Marlon Davidson (Greenville) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Titans linebacker Dorian Mausi did not record any stats.
San Francisco 49ers 41, Arizona Cardinals 22
Cardinals inside linebacker Owen Pappoe did not record any stats.
Los Angeles Rams 21, Seattle Seahawks 19
Seahawks outside linebacker Derick Hall made one tackle and registered one quarterback hit.
Rams running back Jarquez Hunter was designated as a game-day inactive.
Rams cornerback Roger McCreary (Williamson) did not record any stats.
Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett (Jackson) did not record any stats.
Baltimore Ravens 23, Cleveland Browns 16
Browns linebacker Eugene Asante is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Browns tight end Sal Cannella is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Ravens defensive end Carl Lawson is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Denver Broncos 22, Kansas City Chiefs 19
Bo Nix (Pinson Valley) started at quarterback for the Broncos. Nix completed 24-of-37 passes for 295 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions and ran three times for 8 yards.
RELATED:BO NIX ON BRONCOS’ WIN: ‘IF YOU WANT TO BE THE BEST, YOU GOT TO BEAT THE BEST’
Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham dressed for the game but did not play.
Philadelphia Eagles 16, Detroit Lions 9
Eagles running back Tank Bigsby ran for 34 yards on four carries.
Lions safety Daniel Thomas (Lee-Montgomery) made one tackle on special teams.
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Week 11 started on Thursday night, when the New England Patriots defeated the New York Jets 27-14.
Week 11 concludes on Monday, when the Dallas Cowboys and Las Vegas Raiders square off at 7:15 p.m. CDT at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. ABC and ESPN will televise the game.
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